About Our board Members

Born and raised in Birmingham, AL, Lane graduated from Auburn University with a BS in Biomedical Science.  Lane worked in quality control and operations of a local antibody production lab until 2018. Lane and his wife, Kathryn, live in Mountain Brook and have 4 beautiful children, Libby (10), Drew (9), Grace (7) and Ann Curtis (3). If h

Born and raised in Birmingham, AL, Lane graduated from Auburn University with a BS in Biomedical Science.  Lane worked in quality control and operations of a local antibody production lab until 2018. Lane and his wife, Kathryn, live in Mountain Brook and have 4 beautiful children, Libby (10), Drew (9), Grace (7) and Ann Curtis (3). If he’s not spending time with the kids, you can find Lane either at the beach or the golf course. Lane enjoys cheering for his two favorite teams, the Auburn Tigers and Atlanta Braves. The Hagans are members of Church of the Highlands in Birmingham.

“It was our desire to create something meaningful and impactful from what happened to Libby. We have learned so much over the last ten years- one of the greatest lessons is that raising any child, and especially a special needs child, takes a village. We know first-hand the stress placed on families whose medical insurance will not cover everything that their child needs to thrive. We want to help. It was out of this desire that the concept for Libby’s Friends was born.

Emily is a full time mom, a soccer coach and social media director at Homewood Soccer Club, and proprietor of Art By Emily, a custom artwork business she began after becoming a mom. She has known Libby since birth and has been a strong advocate for Libby’s Friends since its founding. Prior to joining the board, Emily gave her time as a 

Emily is a full time mom, a soccer coach and social media director at Homewood Soccer Club, and proprietor of Art By Emily, a custom artwork business she began after becoming a mom. She has known Libby since birth and has been a strong advocate for Libby’s Friends since its founding. Prior to joining the board, Emily gave her time as a volunteer at Libby’s Friends fundraising events and as an active fundraiser for the organization. Emily strongly believes in the mission of Libby’s Friends and getting the word out about the organization has been one of her passion projects. She was previously the head women’s soccer coach at Birmingham-Southern College, and has worked in the athletic departments at Sewanee: The University of the South and UAB. A captain of the women’s soccer team before graduating from the University of Alabama with a degree in English, Emily is a former member of the executive committee for Alabama’s A-Club. She and her husband Brian live in Birmingham with their children, Lizzy, Caroline, and Patrick. They attend Saint Francis Xavier Catholic Church. 

Mary Andrews is Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Vulcan Materials Company. She received a BA in Economics and Spanish from the University of Virginia before moving to Managua, Nicaragua, to teach at the Nicaragua Christian Academy. Mary Andrews then earned her MBA from the University of Alabama and returned to Birmin

Mary Andrews is Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Vulcan Materials Company. She received a BA in Economics and Spanish from the University of Virginia before moving to Managua, Nicaragua, to teach at the Nicaragua Christian Academy. Mary Andrews then earned her MBA from the University of Alabama and returned to Birmingham to work for Vulcan Materials Company where she has held a variety of Finance and Business Development roles and currently serves as CFO. She and her husband Drew have two sons, Baines and Walton, and enjoy time as a family at the soccer fields or at the lake. Baines had the privilege of being one of Libby’s classmates in 3rd grade and is one of her and Libby’s Friends biggest fans! 

Originally from Arlington, Texas, Jack graduated from Texas A&M University with a degree in Communication and a minor in Business. In 2017, he moved to Birmingham with his wife, Leigh Kimbrough Louis. They have two children, Hardy and Mary Charles, who attend Cherokee Bend Elementary.

Jack is the Co-Founder and COO of Independent Waste, a 

Originally from Arlington, Texas, Jack graduated from Texas A&M University with a degree in Communication and a minor in Business. In 2017, he moved to Birmingham with his wife, Leigh Kimbrough Louis. They have two children, Hardy and Mary Charles, who attend Cherokee Bend Elementary.

Jack is the Co-Founder and COO of Independent Waste, a commercial construction-focused roll-off dumpster company. Before this, he served as President of Fat Tire Tours, a tour and activity company with locations in eight European markets.

He is a member of the Church of the Highlands and serves on the Dream Team as a small group leader. Jack regularly volunteers his time helping coach his kids' teams. He enjoys spending time with his family, cooking out, and traveling. A long-time supporter of Libby's Friends, Jack is excited and honored to further the organization's reach, helping even more families across the state of Alabama.

Justin Allen is an accomplished CISO with extensive experience in the field of information security. Based in Birmingham, Alabama, he plays a pivotal role in safeguarding Protective Life’s digital assets and ensuring the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of critical information.

Before joining Protective Life, Justin held key se

Justin Allen is an accomplished CISO with extensive experience in the field of information security. Based in Birmingham, Alabama, he plays a pivotal role in safeguarding Protective Life’s digital assets and ensuring the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of critical information.

Before joining Protective Life, Justin held key security positions in various organizations, including: • Head of Attack Surface Reduction and Head of Cloud Security Engineering at US Bank • Director of Security Operations at BBVA USA • Head of Technology Risk and Governance at Federal Reserve Bank of New York

Justin thrives on the dynamic nature of his job, relishing the excitement and the ever-evolving challenges. His work allows him to build strong relationships across the company, contributing to Protective Life’s commitment to security excellence.

Justin is a devoted father to two wonderful daughters, Nadia, aged 8, and Charlie, aged 5. Charlie, a micro preemie born at 26 weeks, bravely battled NEC and spent her early years at Hand In Hand Early Learning Center. Justin's personal experiences have led him to become an active member of the Dads of Kids with Special Needs Group, offering support and sharing wisdom with fellow fathers. His commitment to making a difference extends to his role as a board member for United Ability, where he contributes to empowering individuals with disabilities. Celebrating 17 years of marriage with his wife Jessica, Justin's family journey is a testament to resilience, love, and the power of community support.

Jana Newton is a dedicated pediatric occupational therapist and the founder of Iron City OT, a pediatric therapy and wellness clinic located in Homewood, Alabama. With over 17 years of professional experience, Jana has become a trusted advocate for children and families navigating developmental and medical challenges. Her holistic approac

Jana Newton is a dedicated pediatric occupational therapist and the founder of Iron City OT, a pediatric therapy and wellness clinic located in Homewood, Alabama. With over 17 years of professional experience, Jana has become a trusted advocate for children and families navigating developmental and medical challenges. Her holistic approach to therapy focuses on fostering community connections and empowering families to help their children thrive.

Jana's journey with Libby’s Friends began when she met Libby as a baby, and it came full circle when one of her patients received a grant through the organization. Inspired by their mission, Jana knew she wanted to contribute to the meaningful work of this group. She previously served as a member and president of the Associate Board before stepping into her role on the Executive Board.

Outside of work, Jana is happily married and a proud mom to two energetic daughters. As a family, they love traveling, spending time at the beach, and creating memories together.

As a board member of Libby’s Friends, Jana brings her extensive professional expertise, personal experience as a mother, and a deep appreciation for the life-changing impact the organization provides to families. She is excited and honored to serve an organization with such a powerful and meaningful mission.